The day was dwindling to a quiet end. Though weary, her stride did not show it. She walked with a definite sense of worth and purpose. The sun setting to her right, on the western hemisphere, slowly sinking below the high tops of the trees. The last bit of it's light glowing through few places in the thicket that were not encased in the wild growth. A sigh of unsatisfaction, would be the only hint of what lie beneath her coat of confidence. She was solely focused on the ground her paws touched, and the path placed before it. If she had nothing to return to, she would curl up somewhere here, and let the cold sink heavy in her bones.

Ducking her head, she avoided a low branch, and turned around a familiar brush quite aware how close the forest was becoming. All the better, she could see what had occurred today, and see if anyone else had had luck of catching something to eat. Though there was some meat in the caches, it was starting to dwindle, and she was ready to test her new recruits in a hunt for caribou. In recent time her pack had doubled, and she was plagued by how her pack members were "getting along." All the better to call them together, they could work side by side, and accomplish something as a team. Trying to believe if there was any riot, or disagreement she could handle it.

The scent of cedarwood called to her, and she significantly slowed her pace until she was no longer moving. Her pale crown rotated to stare at the glowing patching of orange, and pink sky that hung over her. She was unmoved like a carved figure among the foliage, siting there well after the sky had turned from purple to a dark indigo.

Sleep was heavy upon her eyes, aching in her bones. It was almost like her very life source was being sucked away little by little, everything feeding off her strength, her good fortune, and her determination to continue. No matter what twenty-four, seven it was trying to take her to the ultimate ending. The concept of death didn't scare her any more. She actually thought it might be the greatest release of her burdens. What scared her was the what ifs. If she disappeared off the face of the earth who would be the glue then? Who would look after her children? The answers scared her, because she wasn't sure. A shiver raked down her spine, but it had nothing to do with the cold. What didn't kill her was suppose to make her stronger wasn't it? In some ways she was, but every object has a weakness. She didn't feel significantly tougher, just more like a prickly porcupine that should be avoided.

She licked her tongue over her teeth, and clenched her jaws. She should head back, but she did not want to move. It was quiet here. One moment to leave herself behind didn't seem much to ask. The days of pure enjoyment were little. No matter what she was doing, worrisome thoughts carried around like a dark shadow of pain, and misery. Day after day one thing followed after another, she wasn't quite sure how she functioned as well as she did.
Would there every be a day when everyone got along, and things functioned smoothly?

Her breath felt tight in the confines of her chest. Her throat felt dry, and scratchy. The idea of walking to Jasper Rocks appealed to her, but at the same time it didn't. Theo, and Prosper were to close, and Jasper Rocks reminded her to well how things had been a year ago. A year. It was such a long time, yet had passed so quickly in some ways. She couldn't believe she had confided to Borden her affections about this time last year. The silver dappled wolf couldn't say they'd been together that long. And she often pondered if they would ever be again.

Slowly her head cast down from the sky, as her eyes absorbed the surrounding darkness. She stood up, turning around when she spotted him. She jumped, her breath spilling from her lips. "Kade," she said, somewhat surprised yet delighted all the same. He almost always seemed to find her in her darkest time. "You passing through?" She inquired, uncertain what he was doing out, and about once again.

Her eyes could barely make out the grin he sported, and a pale brow raised in question. "What?" She asked with a curious tone to her alto voice. She was interested in what had brought it on as she had not seen much of it before, and was not sure of it's origin. It en-told something deeper, and she hated the guessing game.

What never ended to surprise her was how could he always look happy to see her. How could he do that? She didn't believe she should easily brighten his day, but the evidence was against her. Her pale face soon smoothed, and she hesitated to move closer. So instead her tail was quick to wave behind her, and a delicate yet happy smile lingered on her lips. She couldn't hide the fact she was happy to see him, and wasn't about to try. Seeing him made her feel more assured she wasn't completely alone in all of this. Least one wolf wasn't mad at her, and her triangle points tipped back. She didn't want to talk about Kiche or Eletttra and would be most grateful if he didn't mention it. Her jaws clenched at the thought. If it came up she'd just work it. Wasn't the worst of things. She silently released her tight grasp, shifting her weight between her paws.

What she really needed was someone to talk to, and confide in. Jayse, she was hesitant to do this. It was like cutting open her layers and exposing her weakness, making her vulnerable. She did not like appearing weak or fragile. She was scared of putting herself on the line. What was beneath her ash stroked exterior would not be pretty in her mind. Whatever this was, this dance they appeared to be doing where no one got to close was making her question herself. Most of all hate her heart. What it craved, and hungered for, what it desperately wanted. It wanted several things, and could not have it all.

She tried to relax her posture, and did to a point when he came closer. She had known reluctance in being close, she had come know him better in time. Maybe not everything, but she didn't question what kind of man he truly was. "Ah," she quietly offered at his short reply. Slowly she let her eyes fall along the silver wisps against his dark pelt. She was caught off guard by his statement, and a flash of her astonishment showed on her pale mask. It was short lived, if even there. She gently shook her head, if to change his mind rather than in disagreement. Beautiful eyes, she was more ready for. A soothing laugh worked it's way from her chest. "No, they won't speak to me." There was no pain in it, just a playfulness that had long been forgotten as her head cantered to view the twinkling lights again. She leaned, drifting to stand by his side, and whispered in his ear, "Maybe, you can tell them it's not my fault...." She did not wait for an answer or reply. She softly nipped at his ear, and sped off into the shadows.

Would he follow? It was an impulsive drive that had pushed her to touch him, and a need within her that craved for truth. It might appear some kind of game or test on the outside, but it was more a question of the heart. Did two beat the same, one, or neither? What was this between the ash toned lady, and the dark knight who captivated her? Love, or a mere survival mechanism trying to reassemble herself from the deep scars she carted? This was the very question, not only she had asked, but anyone witness to the changing dynamics of the Grizzly Hollow pack.

Right now the leader was not thinking about pack nor what would happen. It was in this moment she lived, propelled by joy of escaping her sober thoughts, and the responsibilities she held. Her heart continuously struck against it's cage played in a melody with the land of each paw step against the melting ground. She moved as if it took no real might or force to fly through the dark shadows, and half luminous back drop that stars let them borrow. The speed uplifted her spirit, and made her feel like a leaf on a breeze with the gentle stroke of air running it's invisible fingers through her thick coat. Though her breath became rough she would not slow. She continued gliding, and bolting through the snaking growth, and small banks of snow weaving in and out with grace powered by an adrenaline rush. She would appear nothing but a tainted apparition who had been left behind, and was running over the grounds she was forcefully tied to, wandering for some kind of peace.

She did not have to wonder if she was being pursued. His paws were like a steady drum beat of their own following after hers. In this chase she was not running away, only embracing a part of her. Mischievously her mismatched eyes pulled in time to catch his dark figure from across the way as he gained upon her. He was like an livened shadow running at her side, and it was surreal when she took a chance to glance at his onyx and steel colored body, moving so fluidly with a fierce grace there was nothing wispy of this shadow. would. And a playful laugh rang from her lips, a smile stretching at along her jaw. They were opposites one dark, and one light almost unreal among the living. She did not look like at his nimble actions for long, not once forgetting how easy she could fall from high. Her brows creased in a determination, and she continued pressing her luck amongst the uncertain ground not sure how far she would go.

Spotting a wide tree by itself, she spun behind it, and pressed her back to it's coarse texture. Her chest fell, and rose quite forcefully while she struggled to silent herself. She couldn't quite cut off another laugh from how light headed she felt. She had little time, and crouched waiting for Kade to come within her sight. Her ears captured him first, and she pounced launching herself into his muscular form. It wasn't quite a tackle, but half of her intent. Then she would attempt to grab his ruff with a soft grasp of her teeth, her white tail beating ferociously behind her.

Her frame swept into his, almost crushing if she had ever outweighed him, and she would pretend to pin him to the ground. The laughter, his laughter sang onto her heart, and scared away the quiet she had long wanted to cease. The moment was perfect while their limbs intertwined, and playfully she planted another gentle nip to his collar bone. His silver eyes held onto hers, captivating as they always had been. There was nothing dull, or faded to them they burned with his life. Initially they had been what had drawn her so close, almost within him. And the vibrations of his laughter, his heart, his breath was such surreal of force against her own form. Could it only be her imagination being cruel? She realized how caught she was now. A moment of panic struck in the confines of her chest. She was close to wanting to resist, to pull herself away. If she went further, would they recover? What would it mean? There were no words to confirm her assumptions, or what might be his. But she finalized realize how much she loved the man before her. Why else would it hurt if he disappeared? For a moment she felt like she was being swept away in a dark river, forcefully being pulled out to sea, and the harder she might resist, the weaker she would become. Wasn't that what had happened> She'd tried to hold this under control, and could not. She could not continue pretending, or question. She could not quite let herself fall off the dangerous edge, taking the plunge. There was a whisper of another, the face of someone else making her cling to that thin line. This moment belonged to them, and she would never know if she stood in the middle to afraid to venture to either side what was to be. It would seem head first she would jump in. While he rolled to better suit himself, she carried herself lightly above him. She could not pull herself away, not yet. She lightly laughed at his deeper rolling giggles. Slowly a smile coaxed itself onto her warm features, and she only stared at the steel liquid, counting the varying shades lost in it as he was in hers.

The mask of play he wore became smooth, and sober. Her pale brows creased faintly across her facade. What? She would want to ask, wishing to know what might be wrong. Her mouth was not working right, and she was doing well just to breathe within the short distance. He appeared to wiggle from beneath her, and a frown tugged at her lips. She was ready to pull away with shame, and regret. He did not go far, only moving for a better place. She would hold her breath, doubt, fear, and quite quickly relief washing over her white face. She was not sure if the shame that burned in her cheeks was a good sign. She had no time to think. The brush of his leathery nose to her chest she could not grasp anything but the smooth touch, and sound of the air driving into his lungs. Her own eyes began to coat with thin moisture when he pulled away, whispering to her. She pulled herself downward to him, nestling her head against his cheek for a single second, breathing deep all that was him. He might be a wolf of the Hollow, covered in her scent, the hints of the mountain lake it's brisk water, the cold stone of the high peaks, and something that reminded her of home. She was not certain to what it was, it was so familiar pressing onto her skull. Before the embrace went from nice to awkward she glided away, hovering only a second before plopping onto her back next to him. She snuggled close to him to feel his warmth, and charcoal coat against her to know he was really there.

She was very remit she was certain she had to be deep asleep. She laughed, and nudged his nose with her own. Then she looked to the sky, staring into the vast blackness that made her feel so small with the stars looking quite endless. Had anyone ever counted them? She gently began to clear her throat, blinking her eyelids to clear what had been. "They are beautiful aren't they? They, they make me think of home." Her voice was hushed not wanting to break anything, and she tipped her crown in his direction. "Do you think of your home?" She quietly asked, trying to keep his face as not to remind herself too much of her own.